Over-55s lead e-reader revolution

Cutting-edge gadgets such as Kindles and Nooks are often
associated with young hipsters, but new research shows older folk
are more down than most when it comes to the e-reader
revolution.

In fact, the over-55s have embraced e-readers more than any
other generation - showing stereotypes about older folk and tech
are well past their sell-by date. Research from Mintel found one in
three over-55s owns an e-reader, showing older people have climbed
aboard the digital book revolution en masse.

Plenty of under-55s still own e-readers though, with one in five
having bought a Kindle or another similar device. Paul Davies,
senior technology analyst at Mintel, said: "Digital books are
particularly likely to appeal to seniors who may have problems
reading or accessing physical books, due to their ability to
enlarge text fonts, simple operation and instant download
ability."

But it's not just e-readers quenching older people's thirst for
tech. They're also more likely than under-55s to own a TV or a
desktop PC, the study found. One area where under-55s come out on
top is the smartphone, with nearly three-quarters owning one
compared to one in three over-55s.

When it comes to getting the lowdown on the latest gadgets,
nearly 40% of over-55s seek out the advice of tech-savvy
youngsters. However, more than a tenth of over-55s polled said
their tech knowledge was on-par with younger generations.

Davies added: "It is clear that Britain's over-55s are keen to
keep up with the nation's younger consumers when it comes to
technology. Gradually more and more seniors are becoming regular
internet users, connecting from a range of mobile and in-home
devices."